Coastal Cleanup events scheduled for Sept. 20

Boaters and beachgoers have an opportunity to play a role in helping to rid local coastal waters of trash and debris during this year’s California Coastal Cleanup Day, Sept. 20. Volunteers in Southern California will find many cleanups in which they can get involved.

Held annually, the cleanups allow the public to help rid beaches, harbors, creeks and waterways of trash after long summer days. Launched in 1985, Coastal Cleanup Day has grown into an international event held in more than 90 countries around the world.

In San Diego County, volunteers can help from 9 a.m. to noon. at various sites. For more information or a complete list of cleanup sites, visit cleanupday.org.

Oceanside’s Buccaneer Beach, Del Mar’s San Diegito Lagoon. La Jolla Shores and Mission Bay’s Fiesta Island are a few of the places where volunteers can lend a hand.

At Sun Harbor Marina, boaters can help clean up the marine by volunteering and hour or two of their time. Volunteers are encouraged to bring their own bucket and work gloves. For more information, visit sun-harbor.com.

Power Scuba will also be hosting a large underwater cleanup in six spots from the Maritime Museum of San Diego to Tuna Harbor. More than 100 divers are expected to participate in the daylong event that will end with a barbecue. For more information, visit meetup.com/Scuba-Diving-San-Diego.

Visit OCparks.com for a list of cleanup locations in Orange County. Volunteers can lend a hand at Big and Little Corona, Bolsa Chica State Beach, and Aliso Creek. Visit OCparks.com for more information on cleanup sites.

Dana Point Harbor is hosting two cleanup events, including a Cigarette Butt Roundup and an Underwater Cleanup. For more information on these events, visit ocdph.com/about/events or dphunderwatercleanup.com.

For a list of cleanup sites in Los Angeles County, visit healthebay.org. Some sites include Dey Yacht Club, Malibu Lagoon, Santa Monica Beach and King Harbor Yacht Club.

Volunteers can lend a hand at Cabrillo State Beach (3720 Stephen M. White Drive, San Pedro). For information, visit cabrillomarineaquarium.org.

El Dorado Nature Center and the city of Long Beach will host an event from 9 a.m. to noon at Alamitos Bay Marina, Alamitos Beach, Belmont Pier, Bluff Park, and Mother’s Beach. Volunteers simply need to show up on the day of the event and sign in at any of our sites. Bags and gloves will be available at each site and parking is free for the duration of the event. For more information, call Brooke Davis at (562) 570-4876.

Kayakers can help out during The Bay Foundation’s 10th annual Kayak and SUP Coastal Cleanup Day in Marina del Rey. As the only kayak cleanup site, the event is hugely popular each year and books up early.

Early signups will have a chance to secure use of a kayak or a stand-up paddleboard from The Bay Foundation; however, volunteers are encouraged to bring their own kayaks or SUPs to use on the day of the cleanup. The Bay Foundation will provide small nets for volunteers to pick up trash from the ocean.

Last year’s event drew 114 volunteers to the event and resulted in the removal of 30 pounds of trash, according to the foundation.

“The goal of our kayak-and-SUP cleanup is to ultimately change people’s behavior and habits so that they will recycle more, use less plastic (think zero waste lunches, less or no packaging), and help protect the benefits and values of Santa Monica Bay and our coastal ocean,” said Grace Lee, The Bay Foundation’s director of Outreach Programs. “To see people react every year to the amount and types of trash they collect from the water is inspiring, because it means the act of cleaning up is making that impact that changes people.”

The event takes place from 8:15 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. For questions on signing up with your own kayak, or being added to the wait list, visit santamonicabay.org or contact Carrie Baldwin at cbaldwin@santamonicabay.org.

Santa Barbara County will host a variety of cleanup sites. For a complete list, visit lessismore.org/pages/coastal-cleanup-day-in-santa-barbara-county.